Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Manual, Unique EU Specification.Collectible

This really is a unique oportunity.

We think its the only official example manufactured for the European market by GM.

Please read the excert from the magazine article below which tells the interesting tale of this vehicle.

Needless to say. the car is in perfect condition today.

I'm happy to discuss P/X against anything interesting of any value

This particular tale concerns one very special car - a 1992 manufactured ZR1 no less.
It soon transpired that this ZR1 was not your normal example. The mileage was a mere 21. 00 miles and. despite records to the contrary. this was a genuine 1992 Euro spec' ZR1. The original Order Sheet was still in the glove-box with CODE MAE MARKET- ING AREA - EURO stamped all over it (and this despite records showing that none were actually produced!) Further investigation showed that the car was originally sent by GM to their dealership at that time in Bergheim. Norway. with the intention that the dealership would then seek the required EU Type Approval for the 1992 ZR1. As soon as the dealership advised their home base of the tax implications (and presumably potential costs) to register the new 1992 ZR1 in Norway. the mission was swiftly abandoned. Hence no genuine 1992 ZR1's were sold new across the EU in 1992. including the UK. With the car already on display in the Bergheim show-room it was snapped very quickly up by the deal- ership's Technical Director. The car remained on display in the GM show-room for many years until it was finally registered for the road (and don't ask how that was achieved - that's another story in itself!) He then kept ownership of the ZR1 until it finally passed to the Swedish collector in mid-2012.

Being such a one off vehicle. the car originally arrived at the dealership with the US door mirrors still in place but with the mickey mouse EU mirrors boxed ready for dealer installation for EU compliance. The new owner of the car being a Director of the very dealership who should have been responsible for changing the mirrors obviously instructed his team to leave the US spec' mirrors in place. a smart decision even back then. Also. due to the fairly tortuous route the car had taken before being sold to the first real owner. absolutely every single scrap of valuable documentation was all filed present and correct with the car.

So. a quick change over at Immingham Docks and when the car was back in Lincolnshire Adrian duly put the ZR1 put up for sale in the UK via Ebay on Christmas Eve 2014. Adrian recalls only too well cursing the telephone ringing on Christmas Day whilst the turkey was being carved with the caller telling Adri- an “That ZR1. it's mine. I've just bought it! I'll talk to you after Boxing Day!” It really was as simple as that. and it wasn't until several days later that buyer and seller really found time to talk at length. The buyer was a certain gentleman from the Norfolk area who let slip that he had been a senior figure on the de- velopment team throughout the ZR1 development years. and he too had some stories to tell. many of which GM themselves don't even know about to this very day! He recalled the time in 1988 when the ‘team' fitted a twin turbo system to a bench engine and produced in excess of 1000bhp. plus several other stories he asked not to be put in to print. Adrian recalls that the buyer when questioned. (very gently) about his reasons for buying the ZR1 that the story really began to unfold even further!

It seems he has what may probably be the world's largest collection of Lotus cars. including many prototypes and one off Lotus rarities and a vast collection of memorabilia covering all years throughout the history of Lotus. These cars are all in storage and currently scattered throughout the country. The intention in the not too distant future. is the opening of a ‘one make' Lotus only Museum. Suitable sites in the Norfolk area are apparently being sought as this feature goes to press! But our ‘mystery buyers' plan even goes one stage further in that once the museum is set-up he proposes to place the entire collection. including the museum site. in to a Trust to be saved for future generations. And guess what's going to be taking pride of place - a certain 1992 Torch Red EURO ZR1 of course! Not only that but the ‘buyer' has also amassed what he believes to be the largest collection of ZR1 memorabilia on the planet including masses of early design drawings. cut-away drawings all signed by the respective artists and dedicated personally to our ‘mystery buyer'. Prints. photographs. models. parts. the list just goes on and on. This looks as though it has all making of a superb display and potentially the equal of anything in the ‘States. Certainly something for European Vette heads to go and visit!

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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